Flystrike among Domestic Animals: An Overview

Flystrike is a condition which arises due to egg
laying by certain group of flies on open wounds of domestic
animals. After hatching, the larvae bury themselves under
the skin and feeding on their flesh for a certain period of
time. Infested animals often exhibit symptoms like distress,
low appetite, and putrid odour, many of which further
result in enhancement of oviposition by flies. Flystrike can
prove to be fatal for affected animal due to septicemia or
ammonia poisoning. The condition is troublesome, not only
leading to degradation of livestock, but also causing the
economics losses to the livestock industry. The loss of
productivity is generally in terms of reduced production
from the individually struck animals, and through the
elevated amount of time and cost of treating and preventing
the condition. Effective measures are needed to minimize
the risk of flystrike that can prove beneficial to the health
and wellbeing of livestock and farm productivity.